PetroDE talks with the Denver Post about recent traction

Keith Robertson, then a junior at Arvada’s Ralston Valley High School, had two summer job options: lifeguard or creating software for “the idea” of a new oil and gas data management company. “That sounded a lot more interesting than being a lifeguard,” said Robertson, now 24.

The idea is now Broomfield-based PetroDE — which is expected to announce a contract with The Woodlands, Texas-based Anadarko Petroleum Corp. on Wednesday.

PetroDE creates a cloud-based computer platform to aggregate, analyze and map the wide range of data oil and gas companies use in choosing and managing development sites.

It was Alan Lindsey, 52, a friend of Robertson’s family and now PetroDE’s CEO, who saw the key problem — if not at first the solution.